Tennessee Whiskey Law Staying Same for Now; Lawmakers Put Off Decision

Attempts to rewrite a law defining Tennessee whiskey failed to pass this legislative session, with lawmakers voting to put off a decision to rewrite or repeal the law until after study panels consider the issue in the summer.

The decision is welcomed by Jack Daniel’s, owned by Louisville, Ky.-based Brown-Forman Corp., which first proposed the establishment of a Tennessee whiskey law last year.

The law requires that whiskey be charcoal filtered and stored in unused oak barrels in order to be labeled as "Tennessee whiskey."

Distillers, including George Dickel, owned by Diageo PLC, have said the law is too restrictive and unfairly benefits Jack Daniel's.

"Rather than having one company dictate for everyone, we can do this the right way and come together in an open forum to discuss how to create the best standards for Tennessee whiskey," Diageo vice president Guy L. Smith IV said in a release.

Jack Daniel’s has said the law is not unprecedented, pointing to restrictions on the use of names for Scotch whisky makers in Scotland, Champagne producers in France, and legislation defining Kentucky bourbon.

Attempts to rewrite a law defining Tennessee whiskey failed to pass this legislative session, with lawmakers voting to put off a decision to rewrite or repeal the law until after study panels consider the issue in the summer.